Toilet-bowl cleaner



EDWIN Y. DRAKE, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

TOILET-BOWL CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed .Tune 7, 1919. Serial No. 302,580.

` To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN Y. citizen of the United States, Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Toilet-Bowl Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

My invention'relates to improvements in toilet-bowl cleaners, in that it provides a means of completely closing the outlet hole or throat of a toilet-bowl during its operation of cleaning, and combines therewith, the elements of a force-pump, a suction-pump and means for directing the forced-jet, or stream'of a city-Water-system, undiminished, into a toilet-bowl and when the toilet-bowl is clogged by filth' or foreign substance, of applying a proper and suliicient force directly to the object and of thus removing the' same by either of the means indicated; thus applying to that purpose efficient and speedy means, at the same time lessening any liability of damages, or injury to surrounding property voccasioned by the ordinary means of cleaning a clogged toilet-bowl.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure l, is a sectional view of the as- DRAKE, a

sembled machine, disclosing its working mechanism.

Fig. 2, 1s a bottom end view of the same. Fig. 3, 1s a side vlew of the devlce for securing the stopper-ball to the main pipe ofv the device.

Fig. 4, is a sectional View of the piston Within the main pipe, and disclosing its attachmentand packing arrangement.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1

The pipe 1, with cap y5, the piston-rod 2, handle, faucet 17, and faucet 21, braceboard 15, stopper-ball 12', ball-cap 13, nut 11, and piston-valve 6, constitute the general frame work and features of my machine.

In the construction, it is desired to have a provided with threads at its respective ends; those, lat the top end, for attachment, of a cap, 5, which is an ordinary screw-threaded cap-nut threaded on the inner surface of its rim for securing vto pipe 1, and having a hole 28, in its center to admit the insertion and snug movement of the piston-rod 2, through the same, when each are attached as shown Ain Fig. 1. Pipe l, is provided at the bottom residing at eration are found to tit within the bottom of stopper-ball l2. within a cavity 25, provided in the bottom side of stopper ball 12, being a milled enlargement of hole 2-1, through which pipe l, is inserted, which stopper-ball l2, is constructed of soft or pliable rubber, and secured by nut means 11, to the bottom end of pipe 1, as disclosed in the drawings Figs. 1 and 2, and also secured against sliding upward thereon by the top plate shown as Fig. 8, which is a circular concave washer cast to lit the top of the stopper-ball 12, by

`means of a hole 27, in its center through which 4pipe 1. is passed, and when adjusted to stopper-ball 12, is securely fixed to the pipe l, by set-screw 14, inserted through holes 14" in the top band 13 thereof; 13Z1 representing the concave flange thereof, and when attached is used to prevent stopperball 12 from sliding upward on pipe 1, when in use. f

12 represents a section'view of a soft-rubber stopper-ball, having a hole 24, directly through its center of size suitable to snugly receive pipe 1, and secured thereto by nut 11, and concave washer Fig. 3. This rubber stopper-ball may be made of various sizes, which may be changed as needed to fit over the various outlet holes or apertures within the throat of any ordinary toilet-bowl, and having'a milled cavity 25, at its lower end, larger but opening in connection with its center hole 24, for the purpose of admitting washer 10 and nut 11, when it is mounted on pipe l, through the center-hole 24.

Stopper-ball 12 may be lmade of any soft rubber ball of suiiicient size having a hole of proper dimensions through the center as indicated in Fig. 1, but it is required to be made of soft rubber se that in use when the section of metal-pipe l, of suitable diameter stopper-ball 12 is inserted in the outlet hole of the toilet-bowl, upon pipe 1, and secured between washer 10 and nut 11, found at its bottom en d and the circular concave washer pressed Adownward into the outlet hole or throat of the toilet-bowl by the device in the hands of the operator, it will fit snugly within any hole of smaller circumference than its own, thus preventing the escape of air Fig. 3, as shown in Fig. 1, upon its being or water, yet leaving the bottom aperture 26, of the pipe 1, open, so that the full force of the piston-valve 6, or the suction of the pump piston 2, may be obtained, and applied without waste or diminution, .and

when an ordinary water-hose is attached tov the faucet 17 at 18, and the valve 6 is drawn upward to a point above faucet 17 atl 20,

and valve 19 is turned on so as to admit the stream of water from an attached hose, the

force of the city-water-main or other artificial Water-current-power will be applied directly to any object which may be obstructing the ,toilet-bowl. In such case valveaperture,

drain when needed in operatlon and may be an ordinary faucet, with .ordinary revolving or screw- A valve 22, and mounted by screwing the same into pipe Fig. 1.

It is not deemed necessary to show shoulders for the threads necessary for the insertion of the faucets 17 and 21, about, apertures 20 in pipe 1, as it will readily be understoodthat shoulders would be a common means of providing thread surfaces in pipes for attaching faucets when it is desired to avoid obstructing the free upward and downward action or way of piston 6 within pip?J 1, past their entrance.

1, at aperture 20, as shown in is operated within pipe 1 by means of handle 3 mounted on piston-rod 2 which handle 2 is secured thereto by nut-means 4.

Piston 6 is an ordinary thin circular valve of any desired material, of circumference suited to its being fitted within pipe 1, and is attached upon piston-rod 2 through hole 24, and secured thereto by means of nuts 7 and 8 and is made to lit snugly within pipe 1 by means of a rubber washer 9, encircling the piston 6 and secured 4thereuponV in a groove in the edge'thereof, substantially as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 4, for the purpose of procuring an air and water tightvt ofthe piston 6, within pipe 1. l

In making use of -this machnein a toiletbowl, stopper-ball 12 at the bottom end thereof 25, is inserted in the outlet hole of such toilet-bowl; and -when soinserted, baseboard 15 is extended cross-wise of the the toilet-bowl, and is of suicient length to reach across the same, and is mounted upon plpe 1, by hole 29 in its center, which center hole 29, has a raised portion 30 about it,

to force the machine raised flush to pipe 1, having in either side thereof, holes 16a through which are .'nserted set-screws-16,

for securi u n i e 1.

psVhEnp stopper-ball 12, is inserted in the outlet hole of toilet-bowl, the operatorjudges of the resiliency of stopper-ball 12 and gaging the brace-board 15 to the pressure necessary to close the outlet hole or throat ofthe toilet-bowl sets the set-screws 16 and ste s upon the brace-board 15, thus by his weig t forcing thestopper-ball 12 downward makng the same in desired position the raised portion 30, y

or either A While I prefer the use of brace-board 15 in operating my machine yet it may be operated successfully without it, to suitdifferent conditions, in such cases faucets 17 and 21 may be utilized as handles by which down into lthe out-hole ofa toilet-bowl while operating piston 2 or while utilizing the water-pressure through faucet 17.

Having fully described the construction of my invention and the manner. of operatmg it,

claim:

1. A rubber ball having centrally p'rovided therein a hole suitable for the insertion of an initial pipe; a metal pipe having one end inserted through a rubber ball, one

. end of said pipe being provided with screw iston 6, when mounted on piston-rod 2 threads, screw `nut means, embedded in the enlarged end of the central hole a rubber ball mounted uppn the, end of a. pipe by correspondin screw threads provided` thereon lthere or; concave convex washer means also provided on the said ipe upon the opposite side of said rubber iball arranged conformable to the shape4 of said rubber ball; set screw means within the top of said concave convex washer for securin it in contact with said., rubber ball upon sai pipe', all for'the purposes specified.

2. In combination with a toilet bowl cleaner consisting of a pipe having an open end, its other end inclosed with a perforated cap, foot board meansv secured thereto for holding the same upon the top of a toilet bowl, a plurality of faucets; a handle attached to the end of a piston rod having its yother end secured to a movable pistonmounted withina pipe; a resilient rubber ball having a hole 'throu hits center, the hole having one of its endgs chambered suitable for admission of nut means; said rubber ball mounted on the open end of said provided in pipe and secured thereon between concave washer means, secured. by set screw means on said pipe conformable to the top of said ball at its top, and a nut filled within the charnbered end upon said pipe by same thread means` all for the purpose specified.

i 3. A resilient rubber ball having a hole through its center` one end of said hole be- Ving chanibered suitable for lthe admission therein of a screw nut, mounted upon the end of a cylinder of a toilet bowl cleaner, se-

cleaner between nut and concave-convex washer means, the nut secured Within such chambered end, upon one end of such pipe by lscrew thread means, the Washer secured upon such pipe conformable to said ball by set screw means; a pipe having an open end supportinga stopper ball, its upper end inclosed with a Cap having a center hole for theinsertion of a piston rod, said pipe containing a piston mounted on the lend of a piston rod, supporting a handle, the whole capable of vibrating the length of said pipe, the pipe also being provided with plural faucets arranged nearer the top than the bottom end, of said pipe, one above the other, suitable for intake and outlet of water; board means secured about said pipe by washer and set screw means, above the stopper ball, the whole capable of directing the stream force of a city water main into a toilet bowl and of adding thereto 'manpower pressure at the same time; holding the Water within the throat of the toilet bowl and of letting' the Water escape from the machine Without removing it from the` toilet bowl, all substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

EDWIN Y. DRAKE.

Witnesses NVM. E. ANDERSON, JOHN N. SHALLEM. 

